The Creative Process…& YOU

by

LAURYN

Currently full on pasta listening to Brazilian Lounge on Pandora with lemongrass oil burning. Pixy is snoring louder than me pre-jaw surgery & Michael has his trusty headphones on. Apparently he’s a professional meditator now.

Ok so a week ago I was perusing Instagram & found a quote that Marianna Hewitt, fellow blogger, posted. The quote said: COFFEE, EDIT, SLEEP, REPEAT. Or something along those lines. You get the drift. Anyway, what really hit a chord with me was THE CAPTION.

BECAUSE LOOK…it was so good I made it into a TSC-style quote:

YES.

Immediately I thought: shit I need to do a post on the admiration I have for my peers. A LOT of you guys are bloggers, artists, graphic designers, sketch artists, photographers, or creators of some type. As a blogger & creator, I know the process. Clearly Marianna knows it too. And I really agree with her on the part where she says “so much respect & admiration to the people who have been doing this for a long time & to the creative types who do this process daily in any field.”

Today I want to ASK YOU: how do you get creative? Can I check out your artwork? Are you a web designer? A fashion designer? What have YOU created? Are you a blogger? A vlogger, maybe? Photographer? Chef? Writer? Or maybe even you’re just REALLY good at Instagram. Whatever your creative outlet is: leave your link below & I am going to spend my weekend going through the comments checking out what you guys create. I want to see your work. BECAUSE SO MUCH RESPECT.

The creative process is like this for me…

Some people assume bloggers take one photo, write a measly paragraph, & they’re done for the day. I’ve tried to uncover that facade but it can be slightly annoying when it couldn’t be further from the truth, you know? I think of myself as a content creator ( er, or curator? But if I hear that word ONE more time I may puke? )…& a lot of people don’t get it.

So today I’m here to say to other fellow creators: I get it. And I want to see!

I feel like if you’re a Skinny Confidential reader, you see my creative process daily on the blog, social media accounts, & YouTube channel. Now it’s my turn to see yours. SHARE BELOW how you CREATE.

lauryn, x

p.s. Marianna was on TSC before she was a blogger AND she’s coming back— her interview will air in the next month. Stay tuned.

So, so true.
It’s hard sometimes to keep creating when you feel like your work isn’t getting enough attention or respect. But I can’t stop 😉
I’m a foodstylist and food blogger at http://www.foodlovin.de and http://instagram.com/_deniserenee_
Hope you feel inspired by my work 🙂 I certainly feel so when reading TSC.

Nice idea Lauren, I look forward to seeing what everyone does!
I have two sites, Paper Doll and The Traveloguer and it’s a bit insane working full-time and trying to make time to be creative, but I do love it so it’s all good!Christine recently posted..Mc Mahon’s of Botanic Avenue

Creating contents for a blog is definitely more than taking pretty pictures and writing words. There’s the part where brainstorming happens, planning, gathering the items that will be in the pictures, choosing the right words, proof reading and checking on my emotions (hahah) before actually clicking on the publish button. It’s definitely a whole lot of work.

I loved this post so much! I used to think the same thing about blogging…but the time and effort put into each post is intense to say the least. My computer crashed this past weekend and it is going to take awhile to fix, so I start to panic! How will I work? How can I work on my posts? My lap top is slow and annoying to edit on. So, I made some coffee, whipped out my notebook, and started handwriting inspiration and blog ideas. Next thing I know, I practically wrote out ideas for the entire month ahead. I posted it on Instagram and found many people felt the same way. I found sparked so much creativity by closing off technology and going old school. It felt good to truly write again.

I am a chemist who has turned my passion of science into blogging 🙂 I have a love for nutrition, health, baking, whipping up drinks, sharing my chemist twist on everything that we all love. I have RA so I also talk about how I stay in shape and eat despite health issues. I find your blog so inspiring with your love of nutrition and health. You always have fantastic ideas! My blog is http://chemistrycachet.com/ and I started an academic consulting website for all my services in chemistry, math, writing and editing. I had to get creative and find a way to work from home with my health. http://www.amsacademicservices.com/

I find creativity through other amazing bloggers like you. I can always pop over to TSC and be inspired by your beautiful pictures and writing 🙂 Thanks for taking an interest in your readers too, I think that is awesome. Have a wonderful day!Alexis @ Chemistry Cachet recently posted..Cold Brew Coffee Popsicles

I love this quote, it’s SO TRUE! A lot of people just don’t get how much work actually goes in every post and blog in general (shooting, editing, writing, designing, promoting, creating, generating ideas, etc.)! I’ve been blogging for 2 years, but have only started doing it consistently about a year ago, and I can say that it requires a lot of hard work and dedication (every single day).

I’ve been a reader of your blog for quite a while, and I really love everything you do! <3

Soooooo…
I felt the urge to blog for like EVER but put it off because I figured no one would care to read it or if they did, surely hate it…and me in the process.
Fast forward to last week…I decided since I live once, do what I enjoy.
Granted, I’ve told literally 3 now 4 people about it, hah! So I’m writing it without the pressure of anyone reading it 🙂
I JUST started the Whole30 and figured it’d be a great way to track my progress.
So there ya go! You actually inspired me ?
Side note: I have NO CLUE what I’m doing but that’s ok 🙂

Honestly, this post couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time to express exactly how I feel. I have always had extreme admiration and respect for bloggers and their work. I never thought I could do something like that, even though it is something I would love to do and could see myself making a career out of in some way. That is until recently. I figured, why not me? And started my blog!
There is so much work that goes into it, and I love every second of the process, even though I am not getting paid for any of it. It’s like she said, there is so much competition, and it’s so hard to stand out. But your fellow bloggers are not just your competition, they are your mentors and people you draw inspiration from.
So I’m working hard because at the end of the day, it’s what I love and most enjoy spending my time doing.

Hi lauryn,
I don’t remember how I came across your blog and the next instant I knew I have to follow you. My dashboard became colourful because of your blog!!! Your blog was inspirational to me in a lot of ways.http://WWW.1985thinkingmind.blogspot.com
God bless you…

I write (however lazily and sloppy) to calm my mind; recollect my thoughts and somehow regain perspective. It’s simultaneously the most exhausting and calming thing, if that makes any sense. Also, it gives me a great excuse to page through countless websites all day…all in the search for inspiration.Monique recently posted..thecozyspace:

OMG I totally get your dilemma. I manage content for a tech company, and being a writer/visually-oriented/creative type surrounded by a lot of math/analytical people is a bizarre juxtaposition, especially when people still don’t always understand how important quality content is (!!!!!!). I co-founded my own company, Pomp Pearls, as a place for me to dabble in blogging/original content creation/audience building and hone my creative process. I think it’s really important to follow that need.

Love this!!! Trying to be unique is so hard, and honestly I have so much respect for gals who blog every day. SERIOUS COMMITMENT. My blog is http://www.theclydescope.com …I’m realizing that I’ve spent the past year trying to be the “typical blogger” (basic?) and it just doesn’t work for me. Slowly finding my voice and what I want to create! 🙂 Can’t wait to see everyone else’s comments! xoxo love you LaurynCarly recently posted..Owl’s Brew Summer Cocktail

My process looks pretty much like yours. I am a journalist and a blogger so I am always in search of inspiration, and my process looks pretty much like yours. Sometimes when I get an assignment I’ll even be like “fuck off” right away. I was like that last night when I had a deadline and I had no idea what to write about. No fun! But I try to brainstorm with other people (also people who doesn’t work in my field). It helps me so much! 🙂Heidi Kokborg recently posted..Chocolate banana smoothie

Yes yes yes! I LOVE THIS!!!! You’ve hit the nail on the head and so much respect to being open to discover new creativity!
Love Bailey, South Africahttp://www.vanillablonde.co.za
(Snapchat – BaileyVanilla)

Aw Lauryn, I really appreciate this post! Like you said, blogging is not as easy as it seems and it can require a lot of planning, writing, and editing. I have a health and fitness blog (where I did a review of your TSC guide actually!) and I like to think people find my posts useful lol.
Looking forward to seeing who else posts here!
Alice xAlice @ Honestly Fitness recently posted..#BeHonestlyFit – Renae Boemecke

Yay, what a post! I adore my fellow creatives and those (like you) who manage to nail the process and give us all a great something to aspire to. Thank you Lauryn!

SO, how do I create? Well by job title I’m a writer and content marketer. And much of the time I’m actually creating on a ghost basis…meaning I’m getting my creative spirit on under my clients’ names. All very hush hush and totally fun really.

In my spare time, I’m a healthy vegan lifestyle blogger. I LOVE this aspect of my life and have way too many ideas I can’t want to implement. There’s a new site coming soon, but I hope you’ll enjoy a peep at http://www.buff-beauty.com meanwhile. I’ve also linked below (/above?!) to my ‘Let’s Collaborate’ piece which calls on our creative community to get in touch as I may be able to feature some of you across my client work (free PR peeps!).

Here’s to celebrating creatives, all the effort it takes to make a great post and to supporting each other. As the saying goes ‘Creativity never goes out of style’.

This is awesome! I can’t wait to check out other people’s comments. I fancy myself a part-time blogger. I just love sharing what I love learning – fashion, food, health, and just random tidbits I pick up along the way. I hope you check it out and if you have any feedback I am always open!

Lauren, love your blog and your positive attitude! I have a full time day job, but blog on off hours and weekends, pretty much anytime I can. Hopefully one day it will be a full time fashion gig. Great idea to have others share the creative process. Hope you are feeling better!
-Rebecca, San Diegohttp://15minwithyou.blogspot.com/Rebecca recently posted..If Only We All Were Forever 21

I think i really needed this today because the creative/inspired process for me is filled with ups and downs, and right now i am in a ‘down’ phase. it happens whenever i want to make a big change to my website or compare myself to other bloggers (which i hate doing and try to avoid!). As a fitness blogger you wouldn’t think there is a big ‘creative’ process behind it, but i’m always trying to come up with new workouts that will stand out from others, ways to distribute my content, get better at taking videos, ETC.
Would love for you to check out my website!http://www.sweatyandfit.comBeverley @ sweaty&fit recently posted..What I Ate Wednesday: Happy Cat-erday!

Omg so true! Love sharing admiration for fellow creatives, i don’t think people realize how hard it is get to get the word out all the amazing things people are creating. I make customized embroidered vintage levi cut-offs and about to expand into other items alongside trying to launch a blog to run alongside it (although I’m currently in the “i’m too scared to put it out into the world until its perfect” stage).

Love this post! It’s so inspiring to see the different mediums in which people express themselves and I firmly believe in pulling inspiration from all different categories of art or creative work. For me its repurposing old furniture with modern geometric designs.

So true. I have been in marketing for 7 years now, so I’ve been managing creative elements for other people. But, I recently just started side project/hustle, http://www.vvattire.com. My site has two parts:
1. A blog where I feature interview with awesome barre, pilates and other studio fitness instructors (will probably add additional posts soon), and
2. a (soon-to-launch) line of grippy socks that I designed. I should have my first shipment of inventory any day now(!!!) and I hope it is well received and that I can expand from the product line from there.

Hi Lauryn! I love this post. It’s so true. I blog at SkinnyAffair.com. My creative process is pretty similar. I get inspiration from a lot of things! Like magazines, people, friends, my puppy. Also..the grocery store because I find a lot of yummy foods there haha. Oh! And sometimes window shopping inspires me.
<3 MelissaMelissa Quin recently posted..{ How To Get Killer, Glossy Legs }

Oh, the creative process…. I am a freelance graphic designer, stylist and event coordinator. So much goes into each of these endeavors that most people cannot even fathom! Even as an avid blog reader, I have had difficulty finding the time to actually curate my own.

You can see my portfolio (needing to be updated with the projects from this Late Spring/Summer) here. Fingers crossed I my blog up and running this Fall!

I enjoy all your beautiful images, but more so the authenticity in your writing – please keep it up 🙂

Yes! Someone gets it! As a fellow lifestyle blogger I can relate to this completely. My creativeness is displayed on my website (bryngabriel.com) & on instagram (@brynauhh) That’s really cool you’re checking these out, & it gives everyone an opportunity to check out each others work as well (:

My best friend Katie and I run a blog together. I love beauty products, she loves her dogs, but we meet in the middle at coffee and cute hair. We blog about fun things ( we think ) although we have full time jobs its such a fun creative outlet. It gets us out of the house when we’re feeling bleh. I love being in my blogging mind! Hope you enjoy!
XX- Sophia

Omg, love this! I started blogging because my office job just doesn’t do it for me. I had been reading blogs for years and would get so inspired (especially reading yours!) and always wanted to try it out. I was finally like, just do it! Only after starting to blog did I realize that this was the creative outlet I needed. And I’ve decided I will always need some sort of creative outlet in my life.

I’ve been casually blogging since November, and more recently decided to stick to a schedule and it is hard! But I’m determined to keep up with it. Major props to you and all of the bloggers out there who consistently put out GREAT content for years!

I can totally relate to the “fuck off -> panic -> work while crying” infographic. That’s why it’s so important as a creator to create something you love, create something that energizes you rather than drains you, because to stand out you have to do a LOT of work, you have to be ambitious. It feels like a marathon at times, and you can’t always pace yourself and meter out your energy.

I create gourmet cookies. Either unconventional flavors (Thai Peanut), classic desserts reinterpreteted as cookies (White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake, Caramel Apple), or marbled (Ebony & Ivory – white chocolate dough marbled with dark chocolate dough). Just examples – I do almost 50 flavors. I have a very basic website I need to redo (on my to-do list, but the cookie orders keep coming in, and I’m a one-woman operation) but you can see my work on my Instagram at https://instagram.com/butterscotchclements/ In fact, you have, you liked a couple of my photos, and I squeed out loud that one of my favorite bloggers gave me attention.

The key to the creative process? Not hating the creative process. Easier said than done.

So basically, I started my dream blog because you really inspired me. It’s weird but after going back to page 255 (whatever exact page it is, I went all the way back to your very first post), I saw that you also started from a tiny little blog and grew it into a brand. It gave me hope that I can grow my brand just like that. You’re really cool and kind of like an older sister I look to for advice. I love how you post so regularly, sometimes several days in a row. There’s not really a day I go without checking your blog.Katherine recently posted..If Social Media Platforms Were Coffee

I agree with this 100%! Where I’m from, people don’t do the blogging thing at all really, so they especially don’t ‘get it.’ Aka: they literally think I’m obsessed with myself & I love to hear myself speak (errr…. Type?). Frustration.

I’ve been wanting to comment on your YouTube channel! You’ve done such a good job with it & deserve MAD respect for getting into that space. I’m thinking about it myself, but that is super intimidating!
Anywhooo, loving TSC (& I’ve been a reader for awhile now)!! Much lovvvve. XPayton recently posted..Wanderlust ( x Free People )

What an amazing way to view the world and your followers – another reason you’re one of my fav bloggers! I have a plant based Instagram, @greenlivie, and I’m hoping to start a website and YouTube channel to complement it later this year. It’ll be challenging but worth it!

I’m an actress, who has a nack for instagram (@irishfrecklegirl) but I get it. The process doesn’t get highlighted easily and people usually just see the finished product. But I wouldn’t trade what I do for the world…ok mayyybe if someone offered a year to travel the world I wouldn’t say no. But for now, I’ll keep working my ass off between the jobs people don’t see (at the restaurant) and the final products they get to admire.

Hi Girl! I met you at the six:02 event in Santa Monica and worked out with you! My IG is @_ModernFit I’d love it if you could check it out! Thanks for being such a huge inspiration to me and my blog <3

I work full time as a photographer/photo assist and being so busy in the photo assist job makes it very hard to make time for my personal work. I crave being able to have that creative outlet! I try to set goals for myself with my personal work so that I make the time for what makes me really happy.

I really love when you share BTS with us! I’ve been blogging for almost 2 years and it’s definitely been an experience. It actually started on Instagram (@laurenliveshealthy) when I decided to track my journey to choose healthy. I tracked my food, workouts & motivation… and have since lost 30 lbs and 100+ inches! I kept getting questions about recipes, my triathlon/running training plans, & really just wanted a place where I could write more… which is where my blog, Lauren Lives Healthy (www.laurenliveshealthy.com) comes in! I thought the same thing when I started… blogging was easy! But it’s definitely not. I’ve learned SO much!! I’m always working on my photography or improving my writing skills. Right now, I’m focusing on learning more about social media so I can improve my brand across all different channels. I think people forget that this really could be a business (obviously, from your success)! Even though I have a full-time job, I still find time to take a webinar of class every month on blogging. Right now, I’m taking an AMAZING course on Pinterest! The learning never stops 🙂 I try to find what I’m interested in and work on that, which keeps my blog feeling very true to me, and keeps me from getting bored. I also try to post on Instagram in the moment, so people can see what it’s really like to choose healthy. A lot of time, that’ll spark a blog post — like a new recipe or a workout or something. Also – finding other blogs/bloggers that you relate to & look up to always helps with the creative process!

Can’t wait to see who else shares their blog/story. & Lauryn – I’d love to chat with you more if you’re ever interested!
xo LaurenLauren Shaber recently posted..Bay Area Eats: Banana Leaf

I adore this post. There have been so many times where when the work blogger, graphic artist or artist comes up and you get blank stares. Or worse brushed off as its “easy”.
Us creatives need to stick together and show the world there is more to it than the finished productKatherine recently posted..“Oasis” Room Project: Room Tour

I have to admit, I used to be one of those people who thought blogging wasn’t that much work. I recently started a blog to feature my wedding clients and other wedding and photography related news and holy crap its a time consumer. It takes soooo much effort to think of new and creative ideas and keep readers entertained. So many props to you for doing it 24/7. So much respect.

So true! Constantly creating new and exciting content can be such a challenge! I’m currently doing my Masters at the moment, and am writing my thesis… Yikes! But I try to also engage other aspects of creativity through reading, and also through my Instagram (food photography/ fitspo whadddup :P) – https://instagram.com/nizzle_kicks_/
Have a great day, Lauryn! XO

I’ve been feeling a little unmotivated lately (leaving my blog to collect dust), so seeing this really made my day! My website is http://www.adrianathani.com, and my instagram is @adrianathani. I’m trying really hard to get back to blogging because it really is a lot of fun when I don’t let myself get too overwhelmed. Just taking it one post at a time now…Adriana T recently posted..My Wedding Attire

Lauryn Lauryn Lauryn I love this! I seriously admire you for being so invested in your readers. And I couldn’t agree more with this post. I blog and I LOVE IT. I’m growing in it for sure and I appreciate all of your feedback via email 🙂 you are awesome! I hope that one day I can focus solely on my blog because it’s such a rewarding and fun thing to pour yourself into. I’m a teacher right now also so it feels like I have two jobs! But I’ll never give up blogging. Thanks for all your motivation and support!
Xoxo
AmandaAmanda Waltman recently posted..Fruity Fresh Cocktails for your Friday (with Sweet Leaf Tea – Part Two)

This post is everything. This is my first time commenting on one of your posts and I picked this one because it is so relevant to my life right. My name is Annelie and I am actually a student who is majoring in Graphic Design and the creative process is something I deal with every single day. My process is almost similar and I am always listening to music since I get most of my influences that way. Doodling is also my go-to whenever I want to create a new design. Also taking photos of different textures from nature is a way of me to get more creative ideas and thinking “How can I use this texture in my designs?” My phone is flooded with random clothing prints, tabletops, and vinyl album artwork.

I also just wanted to say thank you so much for sharing your process and tips & tricks on how to “hustle” and reach career/fitness etc. goals. You have inspired me to actually motivate myself and I am also starting to push myself to achieve my career goal. (Your TSC Body Guide has kicked my butt in my fitness lifestyle and now you have slapped some sense into me to get that career I want hahah)

I wish you good vibes and a healthy recovery from your surgery. I am sure you will get better in no time. Staying positive is the key to getting better and your body and mind will thank you for that <3

and also my Instagram if you want to sneak a peak of my everyday life as a concert addict that loves food and everything else.https://instagram.com/anneliez/

I also wanted to know if have any current or future openings as an intern/assistant/entry-level positions or anything other position? I would be really interested and delighted to gain experience from your company. (I unfortunately was a bit too late when I saw your post about it on Instagram) I feel like The Skinny Confidential and BlogDoo of course, can teach me so much more about web/graphic design, and also on how to become a better creative.

Thank you for taking the time to check out my artwork and reading my comment 🙂
Wishing you the best and much love<333

I love this post because you are 1000% correct – blogging is not only a creative process, but it’s also very analytical. What are others responding to? How am I creating VALUE with my content? You can’t just post a photo with a caption and expect people to come to you, you have to network and create your own community. It’s hard work, but extremely rewarding.

I started my blog as a way to express my love for fashion, fitness, and self-development and inspire others to be their best selves. I originally created it as a way to keep in touch with my sister who is 700 miles away, but now she also creates posts, which makes it even more fun because it connects us even more!

I’m an artist / painter – so I TOTALLLLLY understand the immense frustration that can come w/ the creative process – it can be so emotionally draining, confusing, thrilling, debilitating, wonderful, horrible, fabulous and horrendous….all at the same time!

I just started a blog, it is still very much a work in progress. I have a shop on it as well. I am on all social media, and that alone feels like a full-time job, much less writing the blog which I am trying to do more often. I would love any feedback you can give me, I am very good at taking constructive criticism, and I would value your opinion. My blog is wineisgoodliviing.com.
This is probably NOT what you were looking for as you wanted to gain inspiration, but what you put out usually comes back to you. Much appreciated.
Thanks Lauren

Creativity can be a challenge and my hat is always off to you, Lauryn, and others who do this work full time. I’m lucky enough to be on a self-driven schedule. I let myself off the hook so if I’m not feeling something, I don’t post. And usually right after I give myself a break, my block lifts and I’m excited again. Cruising social media, walking around the real world and interacting with people for my work get my creative juices going. : )

Love this! I started my blog to share how I was able to turn my health around and get off of all my meds for Crohn’s Disease just through changing my diet. I love researching diet/nutrition/holistic remedies and sharing my recipes. It’s my passion, but sometimes I feel like all of my creativity is drained by the time I get home from work, so it’s been difficult being super consistent with it. I have sooo many ideas, but the whole process of publishing just one post is so time consuming! I’ve seen your creative process infographic on FB before and have actually thought about it while I was working on the blog before- it’s good to know I’m not the only one!! Thanks for encouraging your fellow blogger’s, Lauryn!!Angela recently posted..Recipe: Peach Crisp Muffins

Thank you for this opportunity to share. I actually just recently started my blog Tips By Trixy at http://www.tipsytrixy.com and the level of quality I aspire to one day have is the level you have attained (and maintained!) on The Skinny Confidential. You’re a huge inspiration and now that I have started my own journey, I realize just how much work goes into it! Like I mean really, if blogging were any harder, it would be Magic Mike at a stripper competition 😉 I just realized there is a whole other language called CODE! …and it would probably make my life easier if I learned it! Eye opening to say the least.
My creative process is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent stressing that its not good enough. Very excited to check out everyone’s responses to your post and their creative expressions too. Thanks again 🙂Trixy recently posted..Laundry Spa

I recently started a blog, The Gush, where I on various topics, kinda like a lifestyle blog but not really. I love writing for the blog, editing and coming up with different posts, but it is a lot of work. I really love this article and your insight because from the outside, blogging can look so glamorous and effortless, but there are so many more layers. We are definitely passionate artists!

Hi Lauryn!
Love this post. Spreading that gratitude around like wildfire!
I am a tile and stone designer!
I also blog at Designwithapea.blogspot.com about interior design with a little one, who I call my “Pea”.
I want other bad ass mamas to know that their space is an opportunity to create a reflection of them and their family-in its perfectly imperfect glory! And that a well designed home, that is reflective of you and your people, has so much more value than the standard materialistic view of interior design would have you think!
Love your blog Lauryn, and have been an avid reader for a few years now.
Thank you for being a great example of health, self-love, presistence and growth!
xox
Maddi

Hi Lauryn, thank you for sharing this quote,which is so spot on. Blogging is literally a blood-sweat-and-tears job and as easy as it is to get caught up in the rat race–of having more followers, having more page views, having more brands reach out to you–at the end of the day, it´s not about that. It´s about you creating around your passion and supporting your peers who do the same.

I’ve always felt a need for a creative side-hustle. I began making art objects (basically just blinging things out) for myself because I really enjoy the process and find it very meditative. Now I have a few custom orders and an Etsy shop! I so enjoy it. Words cannot express how rewarding it is to embrace your creativity.

Hey girly. I am a life and style blogger, as you know and creating is definitely a process. A fun yet tedious process. My biggest struggle is marketing but I find it the most interesting aspect, probably because it’s a challenge and I am up for a challenge!

I recently created a guide, which you know, about how to build your own style blog. If you asked me a few years ago where I’d be now, there’s no way I would have thought a blogging guide was in my future but I am so lucky it is.

Blogging is amazing because of the connections and conversations that are evoked by posts like this! I love digging deep and really connecting with other people because 9 times out of 10 they feel the same way you do when you always thought you were alone. I love your positive, hype, hustle posts so keep ’em comin! They really steer me straight when I swerve off course.

Love your blog! I too am a lifestyle blogger and am trying to make and find my way in the blogging world. I’ve been at it for about a year now and sometimes think holy smokes what am I doing, not a lot of people are reading, maybe I need to spend more time, or money, etc. doing this, that, and the other thing! Reading this post just totally calmed me. It takes time and damn hard work to start something as bomb.com as your blog and if I just keep on keeping on hopefully it will all come together. Thanks for being awesome and always sharing great content! xo Laurenhttp://www.blissfullylively.com

I completely agree with this post. The blogging process is a lot of work which includes taking photographs, writing, editing the photos, editing the content you wrote and if you’re organized you can sometimes write blog post ahead of time and schedule them (I’m only partially like that). I tend to stay up all hours of the night working on my blog.Cara Weaver recently posted..Hot guy of the week: Tyler Hoechlin

Illustrator here! That chart is my life.
I am motivated the most by my clients, who constantly have input (its a blessing and a curse). If it weren’t for them, I’d never get out of my pajamas in the morning.
The hardest thing is friends and family not understanding that just because I work from home doesn’t mean I don’t have work hours! Like no, I can’t go to the store for you, I’m working too!

Hey Lauryn,
Such a good post. Loving your page and all your opinions and just in general that you share so much about your life. I started m journey through youtube and started to blog not that long ago. You’re page helps me out huge with inspo. AND it is truly so much work and effort. I respect anyone who is out there doing their thing.